Friday, April 14, 2017

We(ea)k

It's been a long week.

And I'm still weak.

But I'm better. I fell ill on Monday and it worsened over the week. I had three days off from work, but had to work Thursday, but came home and near collapsed from exhaustion.

People think otherwise but I don't actually get sick often. Particularly as sick as I have been. I hadn't left the apartment for three whole days. Three days! I go out every day. I love going out. But I couldn't. I didn't have the strength, and was sensitive to noise and smells and things I typically find tasty repulsed me.

It's been a long week.

I'm up today but feeling the effects of yesterday and already I can see the plans for the day shrinking away from me.

For me, and how I experience my life and my disability, sickness isn't a part of it. I am much more debilitated by the flu or when I get an infection or even when I get a cold, than I am because of a silly wheelchair. I wasn't housebound because I'm a wheelchair user, I was housebound because they don't put vomitariums at discrete locations throughout the public sphere.

Already, from typing this, I'm tired.

So, I'm back to lie down. I've got a good book, The Gustov Sonata, that I'm reading, a perfect choice with short chapters and characters I care about. I'm going to go and spend time with them, and my pillow and hopefully I'll wake to a new store of energy or, if not, the ability to go out, even for five minutes.

6 comments:

Patricia said...

Thanks for the book recommendation. I've just downloaded it!

Unknown said...

Well, your body may be weak but your words are strong....and i don't know that I have ever seen the word 'vomitorium' used in a blog before today!
Clairesmum

lexica said...

The previous book I picked up on your recommendation (A Man Called Ove) was outstanding, so I'll definitely be looking into this one too. I hope you continue to recuperate from the cold and feel better soon!

ABEhrhardt said...

I think the vomitoria were for people who overate, not sick ones.

But I digress.

Please take the time to get well - do not expose people at work to germs, and be willing to take care of YOU. The world can exist fine without most of us for a while, and we can all be replaced. That's how this works.

Your comment about being disabled by illness is the way non-disabled could gain a bit of sympathy for us - but they usually waste it by whining about being sick.

Sabrina said...

Get well soon. X

wheeliecrone said...

Please take care of your good self, Dave.

I count on being able to read your blog for sensible, sensitive thoughts on disability - those who have it and those who don't. Those who "get it" and those who SO don't.

I hope that you feel better soon.